John YoungWith nothing but pride to play for in the final game of the season Sunday at Hoglund Ballpark, Kansas University’s baseball team spotted Sunflower State rival Kansas State a five-run lead and then woke up.
Senior first baseman Blair Beck’s two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning sparked a ferocious Kansas comeback, and the Jayhawks capped a roller-coaster season with a 9-6 victory over their archrival on Senior Day.
“When you’re down 5-0, you needed to have somebody put a crooked number on the board, and he was able to do that with one swing,” KU coach Ritch Price said of Beck. “He put some energy and emotion back in our dugout, and from there you know it’s a ballgame.”
Beck’s blast was just KU’s second hit of the day — senior Dakota Smith doubled in front of him — but from there the Jayhawks (23-32 overall, 8-15 Big 12) tacked on a dozen more hits and seven more runs to avoid the sweep and end the season on a positive note.
“When they scored that fifth run, we came in and said, ‘Hey, we gotta start swinging the bats,'” KU senior second baseman Justin Protacio said. “We got one, and that led to another, and we just kept tacking them on. It was awesome to witness.”
John YoungThe four seniors who started Sunday — Beck, Smith, Protacio and Connor McKay — combined to go 7-for-18 at the plate, with five runs scored and three RBIs.
Kansas was drubbed 11-0 on Friday night and lost a heartbreaker, 6-4, on Saturday, but didn’t quit after finding itself in that early 5-0 hole.
“It’s always a really emotional game, and it seems like it every time we play this game it takes us two innings to get the emotion out and get them locked into the game,” Price said of Senior Day, which began with several KU seniors wearing their caps and gowns during batting practice. “The reason I coach is to be associated with players, and it’s a special day for our players, and I’m pleased with the way we ended.”
Beck, who transferred to KU for the final two seasons of his college career, said keeping the emotions of his last game in check proved difficult.
“I just didn’t say a word to anybody,” he said. “If I would’ve said something, I would’ve cried like a baby. The emotions were really high, and to be down five and come back like that really showed some toughness. I’m proud of every one of these guys.”
Added Protacio: “I haven’t cried yet, which is good. I might later. I’m not gonna make any promises.”
Kansas State 030 210 000 — 6 7 1
Kansas 000 330 30x — 9 14 1
W — Hayden Edwards, 2-2. L — Corey Fischer, 4-5. SV — Stephen Villines, 13.
2B — Tyler Wolfe, KSU; Justin Protacio, Dakota Smith, Michael Tinsley, Matt McLaughlin, Ryan Pidhaichuk, KU. 3B — Carter Yagi, KSU. HR — Blair Beck, KU.
Kansas highlights — Sam Gilbert 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K; Stephen Villines 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K; Justin Protacio 1-for-3; Connor McKay 1-for-5, R; Michael Tinsley 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI; Blair Beck 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R; Dakota Smith 3-for-5, 2 R; Joven Afenir 2-for-4, 2 R; Matt McLaughlin 1-for-3, RBI; Ryan Pidhaichuk 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI.
